Veteran first baseman Carlos Peña is likely out for the season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy Saturday morning at a suburban Detroit hospital.

Peña 35 is expected to be released this morning and return to Kansas City with the Royals after they complete their three-game weekend series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

“He had some stomach problems and gas pains (on Friday)” manager Ned Yost said. “They gave him some fluids. Thought it might have been food poisoning until he woke up (Saturday) morning.

“They took him to the hospital around 7 (a.m.) and they did the surgery around 10 o’clock this morning. Everything went well.”

The surgery took place at Henry Ford Hospital in Bloomfield Mich.

The Royals signed Peña a 13-year veteran to a minor-league contract on Aug. 27 following his July 31 release by Houston where he hit .209 with eight homers and 25 RBIs in 85 games.

Peña was six for 22 with two homers in five games at Class AAA Omaha before the Royals selected his contract for their major-league roster on Sept. 3. He appeared in four games and struck out in each of his three at-bats.